EWING — Police rescued a family of three from a van that had been electrified by downed power lines tumbling to the street after the vehicle struck a utility pole yesterday, police spokesman David LaBaw said.

In the van was the 80-year-old driver; his wife, 81, in the passenger seat; and their 54-year-old mentally disabled son in the back of the van, LaBaw said.

Officer Jeff Caldwell was first to arrive in the area of Lower Ferry Road and Phillips Boulevard after an emergency call reported the accident around 3:30 p.m.

Caldwell saw that the two passengers in the front were trapped and wires were touching the vehicle, police said. The driver had already freed himself.